Here we go again! Yet another company taking advantage of young models dreams and vulnerability. Moda, A Model & Talent Company really began as a franchise of Wilhellmina Scouting Network... Er, I mean Trans Continental Talent... Er, I mean Options Talent... And finally E-model.By searching the web you will find plenty under those names.
Well, after WSN filed bankrupts the individuals who bought the franchise in Columbus (John and Suzette. Just keep reading), from Anthony Toma (see One Source Talent or OTC to find out more about Anthony), created their own web based digital comp card company Called First Call Talent. Now First Call Talent was supposed to be based out of Nashville TN, but the Corporate Manager Mac ran the company from a corner office in Moda (I know this because I stopped by the moda office to ask some questions and Mac was doing the monthly billing. He had talent billing information all over his office. It's a wonder credit card number never got stole.)
John Steven Huffman and Levitta Suzette Graham are the owners of both companies. When asked about this Steve told me that Suzette owns moda and he owned First Call. However, both of them profit 50/50 from both companies judging from the original L.L.C. Filed.
Up until now everything I have said leads up to me making my point and why I am making this post. I have spent my fair share of money trying to get jobs as a model. Many places I go I get a lot of promises but I have never worked outside of Ohio. I have spent money on classes (Barbazon of Akron and John Casablancas in Columbus), model searches, TCT (which Mr Huffman was in upper management), and now Moda, A Model and Talent Company.
All of these have a couple things in common. First, they cost much more than they are worth. If you were to speak with any professional in the modeling industry they would tell you that all of the scams I listed above are a waste of money and not needed to be a model (see jaguarcastingsstudioscom or modelingscams.org).
Second, promises of work. Moda words things the same way I remember the lady in Florida for TCT worded things over the phone. They don't technically tell you they will get you work. They call them "opportunities". Now, the way they count these "opportunities" is even more amazing. When I signed on with moda they told me that they received hundreds even thousands of "opportunities" a week. But what they consider an "opportunity" is much different that what you and I might consider an "opportunity".
I thought one "opportunity" equaled one job received by First Call Talent to present to all the models that qualified for that "opportunity" based on the requirements of that "opportunity".in actuality the owners and employee's of Moda, A Model and Talent Company and First Call Talent have it backwards.
They consider an "opportunity" to count for each model that receives one "opportunity". So if 5,000 models received an "opportunity" they would say that they received 5,000 "opportunities" that day. So one "opportunity" turns out to be a deceptive sales report. Wordig it this way makes them seem much bigger than they are. Ask who the agencies are they work with. If those agencies really work with them then Moda and First Call will have a contact person that can verify that claim. Be sure to ask for agencies that have given them work in the fashion and print catagories.
Bet you would not be a bit surprised at this point to find out that a lot of the jobs they do send out they steal off of other web sites. I find many of the jobs they send to me posted on craigs list and back stage. You can read these for free. Just visit the web sites. They are also aware of what First Call and Moda are doing.
You would think my complaints might stop here, but... They don't. Moda and First Call make a lot of claims about who all their models have received work from. Kodak is one they had printed on the flyer they hand out to get people in the door. Kodak, nor the agency Kodak uses have ever heard of First Call Talent or Moda. They're legal person was very interested in my phone call.
There are several other company's names they use to make illegal sales but I'm not going to take the time to list them all. I think you get my point.
Next, I would like to address the number of jobs they receive in each of the major modeling categories. Well, I'm not going to be long winded here. Basically 98% of the jobs they receive are promotional jobs paying between $10 and $15 per hour. Oh ya, 99% of those jobs are all out of the state of Ohio. My percentages may be high by one or two but not much. Feel free to investigate.
The last thing I have to say and then I get off my soapbox, is the sales point they made about the number of models working because of their companies and efforts. Well I spent my $624.95 with these companies last year and to date I have not received a single legit "opportunity" in the state of Ohio that has been anything but promotional work. At this rate I should make back my investment in these companies in about 50 years.
To sum things up for you I have nothing to do with either of these unethical, deceitful, money hungry, companies or the evil people that own and run them. I have accepted my losses and I hope I will learn my lesson for the last time. It's hard to say no when someone is feeding you your biggest dream.
Oh, and a word of caution. If you are already with this company and you attempt to get any amount of your money back you very well may be treated very rudely. I no longer wish to speak with anyone from these companies. I have contact an attorney about the owner John, who goes by his middle name Steve, who called me and threatened me because I cancelled the card they were charging a monthly fee of $29.95 to. My attorney says that none of the paperwork they had me sign would stand up in court anyway... So I have nothing to worry about.
If you want to make a legal complaint, contact the Attorney General for the state of Ohio and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Both of these government departments have received complaints about these scam companies.
Stephanie
Columbus, Ohio
U.S.A.
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